Bakjwi / Thirst (2009) - Blood, sugar, sex, magic - 8/10 (06/10/21)

Thirst is a charismatic horror drama that walks off the beaten path that so many other romantic vampire movies walk. This movie focuses on a gloomy atmosphere from start to finish, features artistically displayed scenes of guts and gore and doesn't hesitate to show male and female nudity in a natural way. In times when societal restrictions are imposed on different forms of art, it's refreshing to see a movie that sticks to its artistic intentions without any compromises.

The movie revolves around a priest who is working at a hospital but trying to find more ways to help people. This is why he volunteers for a secret vaccine development project intended to eradicate a deadly virus. The priest dies during the dangerous procedure but suddenly regains consciousness and seems to be cured. All is not well however, since he now has an insatiable thirst for blood. Seen as a saint who has come back from the dead, the priest develops healing powers that he uses to save a young man suffering from cancer. He is later invited to his modest apartment for weekly games of mahjong. The priest observes that the man that he saved doesn't treat his orphan wife very well and that his mother has established a draconian control over her life. As his vampirism gets worse, the priest realizes that he has fallen for the wife of the man he once saved and must now organize some radical changes in his life.

This movie is best described by being subdivided into four distinct categories inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers' crossover masterpiece Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

First of all, we have the element of blood. This film is visually stunning with its stark contrast between damp apartments, abandoned cities in the middle of the night and gloomy bodies of water that clash with visually aesthetic scenes featuring blood and gore. That element is a necessary feature in a vampire story that attempts to stick to its classic trademarks.

Up next, we have the element of sugar. This stands for the relationship between the priest who is slowly losing his ways and his lover who is slowly losing her mind. It starts as a tender feeling of affection, develops into a mutual feeling of romance, becomes a passionate love story before it turns into an abusive relationship of despair, dishonesty and dread.

The element of sex is self-explanatory. The priest who has never had any sexual relationship and is very hesitant to take that step slowly can't resist his urges any longer and is overwhelmed with extreme emotions. The same thing could be said about his partner who is in an abusive relationship with her step-family but initially afraid to try to break free until she can't repress the desire for change any longer. The initial sexual relationships are hesitant and in hiding before they become longer and more passionate until they reach a point when they become intense and extreme. These scenes portray perfectly the character and relationship development.

The final element of magic can be found in the condition of vampirism. The priest is slowly changing mentally and physically. He is forced to live at night and to drink blood to survive but he also has healing powers and incredible strength. While the movie portrays the downsides and upsides of the condition, the film takes a dramatic turn of events leading to a bittersweet ending that will stay with viewers long after they have watched it.

Korean cinema has been the greatest in the world for the past two decades and Thirst features some of its most influential protagonists. The movie is skillfully directed by Park Chan-wook who created masterpieces like the melancholy tale of revenge Old Boy, the romantic supernatural tragicomedy I'm a Cyborg but That's Okay and the sexually charged period drama The Handmaiden. The film's lead actor is Song Kang-ho who has played in masterpieces such as the intense drama Sympathy for Mister Vengeance, the gloomy thriller Memories of Murder and most recently in Academy Award winning family drama Parasite. The movie's lead actress is Kim Ok-bin who has appeared in features such as the high school horror series Whispering Corridors, brutal action revenge flick The Villainess and crime drama The Discloser.

At the end of the day, Thirst is highly recommended to any fan of Korean cinema in general and to fans of vampire stories in particular.